Silver Linings in the Travel Cloud: Tips for Making the Most of Health Threats and Recession

Five tips for thriving and saving money during the current travel recession. Bargain advice from Tim Leffel, author of The World's Cheapest Destinations

Has it ever been this bad? First there was terrorism, then a global recession, then war in Iraq. Now SARS has added another reason for people to stay holed up at home, afraid to even get on an airplane.

For those willing to venture beyond US borders, bargains of historic proportions await. The worlds woes have dealt a blow to tourism everywhere, but the drop in business is unjustified in many destinations. Travelers willing to put the risks in perspective will save a bundle by following tips from travel writer Tim Leffel, author of The Worlds Cheapest Destinations.

Be a contrarian. All indications point to a summer of heavy domestic travel for most US families. National parks will be packed, lodging at state parks is already sold out, and families can expect long lines at regional amusement parks. Meanwhile, many overseas beaches and attractions are nearly empty. Its a sellers market here, a buyers market there, with prices to match.

Be flexible. Forget the conventional wisdom about planning ahead to get the best airfares and hotel rates. Travelers getting the best deals these days are those who wait until the last minute. Web sites such as 11th Hour Vacations and Site59 specialize in these deals and you can often get great packages for a song at SkyAuction.com. Leaving the options open will usually lead to a great deal.

Head south. There is an inexpensive part of the world thats still relatively unscathed by suicide bombers, SARS, or anti-American sentiment. Bogota and Caracas aside, Latin America is still a safe bet. There are plenty of countries where travelers can live it up for a fraction of the price of US vacations and many airfares have been slashed to the point that they are equal to domestic fares.

Cash in mileage. Despite half-full planes, the airlines have still not opened up more seats to frequent fliers. With fewer people flying, however, its easier to get one of those few spots. And with many airlines about to go bankrupt and American raising the mileage requirement on some flights, it could be a use it or lose it" environment.

Go local. Travelers who forego the familiar international chains for local options will often pay a fraction of the rate and have a more memorable trip. Those who stay at a charming local hotel, eat where the locals do, or hire a driver for the day instead of renting a car will be rewarded in more ways than one.

Tim Leffel is author of The Worlds Cheapest Destinations: 21 Countries Where Your Dollars are Worth a Fortune. For more information see www.WorldsCheapestDestinations.com